Housing structure and its construction



May 17, 1938.

, Filed Sept. 16, l1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 May 17, 1938. J. A. s'rRoMBl-:RG 2,117,996

HOUSING STRUCTURE AND ITS CONSTRUCTION Filed sept. 1e. 19:55.Y 5 sheets-sheet 2 May 17, 1938. J. A. sTRoMBERG HOUSING STRUCTURE AND ITS CONSTRUCTION Filed sept. 16.4 1935 3 sheets-sheet 5 ATTORNEY.

Patented May 17, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HOUSING STRUCTURE AND ITS CONSTRUCTION 3 Claims.

'I'his invention relates generally to new and useful improvements in housing structures and their construction and has particular reference to low cost house construction wherein elimination of waste of materials, use of low cost materials, and minimum labor required for erection, are important factors.

Various attempts have been made to produce low cost housing by use of pre-fabricated wall units or pre-cast blocks of concrete, cinders and other materials, but such attempts have resulted in most instances with very little or no saving and with the objectionable inherent features that such structures have the appearance of temporary or portable structures and often present problems in sealing, joining and securing together such units. Furthermore, such pre-fabricated units were bound by physical limitations preventing wide and desirable variation in designs, plans and arrangements.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide new structural and constructional features which overcome the above-stated disadvantages and whereby attractive, durable or permanent housing is made possible at low cost through elimination of waste, use of low cost materials and reduction in time and labor required in the erection thereof.

Another object of the invention resides in the novel bent steel plate structural members and in their connections which can not only be fabricated at low cost but the use of which reduces waste of material and the time required in fieldL assembly to a minimum. Such connections between the various metallic frame members being made without bolting, riveting or welding; the interconnecting or securing of the members together being accomplished solely by bending and interlocking portions during field assembly by means of a hammer.

With the above and other objects in view, my invention consists in the novel combination, construction and arrangement of the various parts and members shown in preferred embodiment in the attached drawings, described in the following specification and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings forming part hereof:

Fig. 1 is an illustration showing two vertical half cross-sections of a house embodying my invention; the left-hand cross-section being taken on line l-I of Fig. 2, and showing the steel framing and the right-hand cross-section being a similar opposite side cross-section showing the (CI. 18S- 36) cellular aggregate wall, floor, ceiling, and roof slabs;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of an end portion of the house showing the steel frame before the walls are poured into place around same, but showing some of the roof slabs in place;

Fig. 3 is a cross-section taken on line 3--3 of Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is a cross-section taken on line 4 4 of Fig. l, showing roof slabs;

Fig. 5 is a cross-section of the wall taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a cross-section of a portion of the end Wall taken on line 6 6 of Fig. 2;

Figs. 7, 8 and 9 are respectively, side elevation bottom view, and a cross-section taken on line 9-9 of Fig. 7, showing the connection of the roof channels at the ridge;

Fig. 10 is a section taken on line lll- I0 of Fig. 12 showing the connection of the lower end of a roof channel with a longitudinal channel cap and channel wall stud;

Fig. 11 is a section taken on line lI-II of Fig. 10;

Fig. l2 is a section taken on line |2-l2 of Fig. 10;

Fig. 13 is a side elevation showing the connection of a horizontal floor or ceiling channel with the vertical channel wall stud;

Fig. 14 is a cross-section taken on line Ill-I4 30 of Fig. 13;

Fig. 15 is a cross-section taken on line I5-I5 of Fig. 13;

Fig. 16 is a, side elevational view of typical connection of the foot of a channel wall stud and a base plate showing the integral base plate anchors imbedded in a concrete footing;

Fig. 17 is an end View of the connection shown in Fig. 16;

Fig. 18 is a cross-section taken on line l8-l8 of Fig. 17;

Fig. 19 is a plan view of the top of the base plate showing the manner of cutting same to form the connection portions.

Referring now to the illustrations shown par- 45 ticularly in Figs. 1 to 19 inclusive, the house here shown as an example of my invention, includes a steel frameconsisting of a plurality of side wall studs comprising spaced channels supported on base plates 3| and provided with lon- 50 gitudinal cap channels 32. The channel studs of the side walls are cross-connected by channel floor joists 33 and channel ceiling joists 34. The roof channels or rafters 35 are angularly disposed, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and connected together 55 Cil at the ridge and also to the caps 32 and studs 30. The steel frame also includes end wall studs consisting of channels 36 which are secured to the floor and ceiling channels by clamps 31. The bridging between the floor and ceiling channels consists of spaced pairs of fiat bars 39 each extending longitudinally of the house and alternately over and under the channel joists.

I shall now proceed to describe the various connections between the'members above-stated.

In Figs. 7, 8 and 9, the connection of the channel rafters 35 at the roof ridge consists in an extended central web portion 35A of one channel which extension is bent inwardly and slotted as at 35B to permit extension therethrough of a narrower web portion 35C of the other channel 35. The web portion 35C is then bent parallel to the portion 35A to thus securely interlock the opposed rafters at the ridge.

The connection of the lower end of the rafters 35 with the channel plate or cap 32 and stud 30 is shown in Figs. 10, l1 and 12 and consists in recessing the rafter web, as at 35D and bending a portion of the lower flange angularly as at 35E for support on the cap 32. A portion 30A of the web of the stud channel 30 is extended to pass through a slotted opening 32A of the cap 32 and through a slotted opening 35F in the rafter 35 and then bent over the bent flange 35E to securely interlock the rafter, cap and stud.

Figs. 13, 14 and 15 illustrate the connection between the horizontal iioor o-r ceiling joists 33 and 34 and the wall studs 30 and consists in channellike openings 30B in both anges of the Vertical studs 30; the lower end of the opening 30B on the inner side of the building being enlarged as at 36C and a portion of the flange being bent inwardly to form a support 30D. The

end portions of the flanges of each joist 33 and Y 34 are recessed inwardly from the edge, as at 38, to decrease the width of the end portions of the flanges to permit the ends of the joists to be inserted through both flanges of the stud 30 for support on the bent flanged portion 30D. The lower ange to be bent downwardly, as at 38B, over the edge of the support 30D to securely lock the joist to the stud.

It will -be noted by reference to Figs. 7 to 15 inclusive that the illustrated connections consist in all cases of an integral extension of a defined portion of one of said members which is inserted through an opening or openings, respectively, in a like-defined portion of one or more of the other members of the frame work and then bent to interlock or interconnect the members together. It will also be noted that such bent integral extensions are in all cases of less width than the portion from which they extend, and that when such bent integral extension is a portion of the web of one of the members it extends through the web or webs, respectively, of the other member or members and in the case of such bent integral extension being a portion of a ange of one of said members it therefore extends through the flange or flanges respectively of the other member or members, that is, in all connections either the web or flange portions of thel members are interconnected.

The connection of the studs 36 to their base plates 3| is illustrated in Figs. 16 to 19 wherein the base plate 3l is fabricated from a single piece of sheet metal and consists of a substantially square plate formed with extended spaced integral anchors BIA on two opposite sides of the plate which are adapted to be embedded in the concrete foundation 4D. The portions comprising the anchors being bent downwardly and outwardly to form L-shaped anchors. 'I'he plate 3| is punched or cut along lines as indicated in Fig. 19, to provide a pair of portions SIB and 3|C which are adapted to be bent upwardly to positions shown in Fig. 17 to securely retain the lower end of the stud 30.

The portion 3lC is cut from within the general configuration of portion 3 IB and then bent rightangularly to engage the back of the web of the stud 30 as shown in Figs. 16, 17 and 18.

The free end of portion SIB is slightly wider than the integral section to form spaced end portions 3ID adapted to be bent over a right-angularly bent web portion 30E at the lower end of the stud; the portions SID being arranged to intert closely between the flanges of the stud 30 and to engage the inner face of the stud web. As clearly shown in Figs. 16, 17 and 18 the lower end of the stud is securely conned against movement in all directions.

The lateral bracing or bridging 39 shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 consists of spaced pairs of flat bars extending longitudinally of the building across the joists 33 and 34 in such manner that each bar 39 alternately engages the upper and lower flanges of the spaced joists and the pairs of bars 39 also engaging opposite flanges of each joist. Each of the bars 39 is formed with side portions 39A and 39B which are cut from the body of bar 39 and bent to form integral means adapted to securely clamp the bridging to the ilange of the joists; the clamping portion 39A being bent angularly o-ver the flange against the back of the web of the joist and the clamping portion 39B being bent U-shaped to securely engage the outer and inner face of the flange of a joist as clearly shown in Fig. 3.

Referring now particularly to Figs. 1, 2 and 6, I will now describe the manner in which the end wall studs 39 are secured in place by means of clamps 31. The studs 36 are supported on the foundation 40 and secured to the floor and ceiling joists and rafters by clamps 31. Each clamp consists of a flat twisted bar having ends bent U-shape to securely grip one flange of the stud 36 and one flange of the joist or rafter.

From the above description of the various standard structural members and their connection one to the other, it will be apparent that the structural frame members can be readily pre-fabricated with such slotted and bendable portions that the members can be assembled and erected at the site of installation into a substantially rigid frame without the use of bolts, rivets or welding and at a comparatively low cost due to the minimum of labor required.

Figs. 1, 2 and 4 illustrate the improved precast roof slabs 4I of cellular aggregate or other suitable material made in suitable widths and lengths to conform to the spacing of the rafters 35. As clearly shown in Fig. 4, these slabs 4I are designed to provide a support for the side MA upon the entire face of the upper ange of the rafter 35. The opposite side IIB is provided with a depending portion 4IC which is supported upon the entire face of the lower flange of the rafter 35. The depending portion is adapted to intert between the rafter flanges and is therefore formed with angularly disposed faces 4ID, IlE and IHF. Above the face AIF the slab is provided with an angular recess 4IG to permit the side MA of an adjacent slab to reset upon the upper flange of the rafter.

The section shown in Fig. 6 shows a brick exterior finish.

The invention contemplates the use of cellular aggregate for the walls, floors and ceiling and the pouring of same at the site of installation in pre-fabricated steel forms which may be reused on other construction projects of similar kind.

It is also contemplated to build the interior partitions of any suitable fire-proof tiles and Where the partition Vwould carry any load to reinforce same with suitable metallic members similar to the wall studs.

The cellular aggregate floors of 21/2" to 3" thickness may be readily nished in tile, linoleum, wood or other suitable flooring. The interior of the walls may be finished in plaster or constructed of other suitable interior nishes. The ceiling may be finished in tile or plaster on wire lath or in any suitable material. The exterior of the walls may be covered with brick, tiles, wood or other suitable exterior covering. The Various interior or exterior finishes are not shown in the drawings, except that Figs. 2 and 6 show a brick exterior in part.

In the ordinary small house of flve to seven rooms, I prefer to use 4 x 1% x 1% channel studs made from bent copper-bearing steel plate of about number 12 gauge and 8 x 2" x 2" channel joists and rafters of bent copper-bearing steel plate of number 10 or 12 gauge.

As shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the walls 5| consist of poured cellular aggregate with spaced tubular passages 52 extending vertically of the Wall. These passages may be arranged to extend from the basement to the roof to provide air ducts forY controlled force draft for Ventilating and cooling purposes but they also obviously reduce the amount of the cellular aggregate used in such walls.

From the above description and attached drawings it will be readily apparent that the structural frame members constituting the steel skeleton are connected together by interframing portions of members within or through other members and interlocking the portions by hammer-bent sections to thus interlock the frame members without the use of rivets, bolts or welding Vand to afford rapid and permanent assembly of the structural members at the site into a rigid skeleton.

While the illustrations show an adaption of the invention to a house, it is obviously adaptable to the construction of other structures and buildings such as factories or various industrial buildings. The invention permits use of prefabricated steel and poured cellular aggregate walls in a manner to afford Wide variation in architecture and individuality in design.

I am aware that various changes and modifications can be made in the details of construction without departing from the spirit or principles of this invention and I therefore do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exact details shown by way of example in the attached drawings. It is my intention to claim the invention as broadly as the state of the prior art will permit under the law of patents.

I claim:

1. In a metallic skeleton framework, a vertical channel stud having a web and flanged sides, one of the flanged sides having an aperture therein, a channel joist disposed angularly to said stud and having portions of the flanges of its end cut to decrease their width to permit said end to be projected through said aperture in said stud, one of said flanges of decreased width being cut to permit a section thereof to be bent to thereby interlock said joist with said stud.

2. In a metallic skeleton framework, a vertical channel stud having a web and flanged sides, one of the flanged sides having an aperture therein, a channel joist disposed angularly to said stud and having portions of the flanges of its end cut to decrease their width to permit said end to be projected through said aperture in said stud, said stud having a portion of the apertured flange bent to form a support for the end of the joist, one of said flanges of decreased width being cut to permit a section thereof to be bent over said stud bent portion to thereby interlock said joist with said stud.

3. In a metallic skeleton framework, a vertical channel stud having a web and flanged sides, each of said stud flanged sides having an aperture therein, a channel joist disposed angularly to said stud and having portions of the flanges of its end cut to decrease their width to permit said joist end to be projected through both of said stud apertures, said stud having a portion of one of the apertured flanges bent to form a support for the joist end, and one of the joist flange portions of decreased width being cut to permit a section thereof to be bent over said stud bent portion to thereby interlock the joist with the stud.

JOHN A. STROMBERG. 

